Here a Little/There a Little

 

I was caught by a phrase in a verse: "here a little and there a little." I've heard that concept for such a long time. Here are the verses:

For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. (Isaiah 28:10-13 KJV)

The "title" on Isaiah 28 is "Judgment on Ephraim and Jerusalem. One commentary explains it as:

"The prophet here complains of the wretched stupidity of this people, that they were unteachable and made no improvement of the means of grace which they possessed; they still continued as they were, their mistakes not rectified, their hearts not renewed, nor their lives reformed. Observe,

I. What it was that their prophets and ministers designed and aimed at. It was to teach them knowledge, the knowledge of God and his will, and to make them understand doctrine (Here the commentary inserts verse 9: Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. (Isaiah 28:9 KJV) then continues the comment:)  This is God's way of dealing with men, to enlighten men's minds first with the knowledge of his truth, and thus to gain their affections, and bring their wills into a compliance with his laws; thus he enters in by the door, whereas the thief and the robber climb up another way.

II. What method they took, in pursuance of this design. They left no means untried to do them good, but taught them as children are taught . . .

By the time I read this, I'm on my way to a familiar New Testament chapter:

 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? (1 Corinthians 3:1-3 KJV)

Paul is explaining to Corinthians what they should have learned while he was with them. Instead, he is having to write an explanation that he expected they would have grown from baby Christians (milk drinkers) to grown Christians able to chew on meatier knowledge and able to "digest" what he taught. Obviously that hadn't or there wouldn't be the envy, strife and division. That's a carnal Christian - who mighit well act as though Christ was not really for their lives.

The author visits that same thought in the book of Hebrews:

Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:11-14 KJV)

Jesus was sent first to the Hebrew Nation, to Israel. Jesus said so:

But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matthew 15:24 KJV)

Paul, who did not follow Christ until after the Resurrection, knew this, too:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16 KJV)

Jesus is the Messiah the Jews were promised, then He was shared with the whole world. When he answered the Canaanite woman about being sent to Jews, she had faith that the Messiah was intended for everyone, even the least among mankind. The faith of the mustard seed size. The faith that believed Jesus was exactly who He said He was.

Are we one of those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil? Can we stop asking the questions of an entry-level Christian and accept the responsibility of following His will, insstead of our own? Can we do the simplest of lists laid before us:

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 

Rejoice evermore. 

Pray without ceasing. 

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 

Quench not the Spirit. 

Despise not prophesyings. 

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 

Abstain from all appearance of evil. 

(1 Thessalonians 5:15-22 KJV)